Stocking advise

[cbourg746]

Need suggestions for sticking my son's 10 freshwater tank. What types and how many of each. Thanks.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Your looking at nano fish, small livebearers, a betta, snails or shrimp.

 

[cbourg746]

I'm thinking:
2 dwarf gourmis
2 black mollies
2 orange platy

Can I fit anything else???

 

[Swashbuckler99]

yea that should be fine.

 

[Freakgecko91]

Way overstocked actually, not fine. Dwarf gouramis need at least 20 gallons each and are usually aggressive towards one another, and mollies have a huge bioload. I'd look more into micro rasboras like chilis or embers, and maybe a small school of corydora hasborus. Celestial pearl danios are another cool one. As for live bearers, all male guppies (any females and you risk being over run with fry) or endlers guppies would work.

 

[Swashbuckler99]

i have a 9 gallon pillar with a male and female powder blue dwarf gourami and a group of 6 red phantom tetras that have been fine in there tank for over a year now. although i would definately make sure that u have live platns because there colors really show against the green plants and they wil use these materials to make a nest later on. micros would be fine to ixlf you rather do that.

 

[CoryFan]

I recommend not getting mollies for a 10 because of their size, desire for territory, and bio load.
I think the phantom tetra prefer low to middle level swimming and dwarf gourami prefer top level, which helps make the space better. I know it depends on the fish too. My dwarf gourami hassled my serpae tetra in a 29!
If you put two small-type platies (not high fin which get much bigger), you will really be pushing the bio load hard from what I have read.
I recommend habrosus cories and chili rasboras or ember tetra. The bottom will need to be very well cared for with the cories, but they play all over and rest on plant leaves which is really fun!

 

[LyndaB]

I would absolutely not do two gouramis. In fact, I don't believe any gouramis should be in anything less than a 20 gallon tank. (swashbuckler, your tank is grossly overstocked and so it would be better if you didn't advise others to set their tanks up the same way).

Mollies have a huge bioload, but guppies would be good. How about a fascinating red cherry shrimp tank?

You need to remember, small tank = small fish.

 

[CoryFan]

That's an awesome suggestion! Look at pictures of those tanks!

 

[cbourg746]

The lady at the lfs said that the gourmis would not exceed 2" so therefore the tank should do fine with that mix.

 

[LyndaB]

You will learn, as all of us have, that the people at the lfs quite often don't know what they're talking about. The dwarf gouramis I've had have easily reached over 3 inches. Plus, two dwarf gouramis in a small environment will battle to the death. I'll bet she didn't share that little nugget with you.

Your best bet is always to do your own species research PRIOR to purchase.

 

[Freakgecko91]

I worked in a LPS for over 4 years, and i'll admit i knew basically nothing compared to what i do now. I'd go basically off what my gut or quick research would tell me, but mostly what my ignorant boss would tell me. I started researching on my own because i hated that feeling of not knowing the answer to a question. i stopped trusting my boss fairly quickly. now, a year later, coworkers at my new job (best buy) call me, and no joke, "the fish whisperer" because i help everyone out with their tanks and use mostly latin names when i talk about fish lol. basically, what I'm trying to say is always research, never fully trust a LFS worker, unless you've dealt with that particular person in the past and have proven them trustworthy. Out of the 20 or so LFS i've been to around southeastern michigan, I have come across 3 people i trust enough without doing research to back up what they tell me! A nano tank would be PERFECT! Most nano fish tend to be quite active, and in my own opinion, chili rasboras are absolutely awesome! Same with the corydora hasborus. You could also add in some amano or ghost shrimp. Any little kid would love it! Especially with a live planted setup. Sorry for rambling

 

[cbourg746]

Thanks for the input. I have dealt with the lady at this store many times in the past and she has always been pretty spot on. She is actually the store owner. I guess I'll have to be more careful when taking advise from her.

 

[emerald76]

No they won't, just because they stay small doesn't mean they will be fine.They are aggressive fish and will kill each other.Also the mollies need 20 gallons.You could do three platies and nothing else.But if you want a community go with nanos. Also try to find a true LFS if you if you go to a chain, if you can't, don't listen to thier advice unless the employees prove themselves that they are responsible fishkeepers/ sellers, as they told me that these fish would do fine in my ten gallon the first day I set it up-
2-platies
2-guppies
1-tiger barb
2-dwarf gourami
3-neon tetra
1-brown ghost knife
3-mollies
1-cory
They even said I could add an oscar if I wanted to.

 

[Coursair]

No they won't, just because they stay small doesn't mean they will be fine.They are aggressive fish and will kill each other.Also the mollies need 20 gallons.You could do three platies and nothing else.But if you want a community go with nanos. Also,is your LFS Petsmart or Petco?If so,I wouldn't listen to thier advice.It is bad IME.They told me that these fish would do fine in my ten gallon the first day I set it up-
2-platies
2-guppies
1-tiger barb
2-dwarf gourami
3-neon tetra
1-brown ghost knife
3-mollies
1-cory
They even said I could add an oscar if I wanted to.

It still depends on the employee, not the name of the store. I was a Petsmart Pet Care Lead. I did give good advice and had quite a loyal following. Petsmart Goldfish pamphlets even have decent tank size recommendations.

So please don't slam all employees of any store unless you have facts to back you up. You were given horrid advice. Not by my local store.

I love my 10g. Vid is in my sig line.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Let's get back on track. This thread is about stocking the OP's tank not employees at chain stores.

 

[Samzter]

Like others have suggested, mollies have a Big bioload. Guppies would work but they breed like rabbits!!!! Haahaa. I would do:

2 sparkling gourami
2 platies
3 guppies
And maybe a handful of red cherry shrimp or Anamo shrimp. If your getting livebearers and want them to reproduce get 1m guppies and 2 f guppy. If not just 3 male guppies . Hope that helps

 

[emerald76]

Like others have suggested, mollies have a Big bioload. Guppies would work but they breed like rabbits!!!! Haahaa. I would do:

2 sparkling gourami
2 platies
3 guppies
And maybe a handful of red cherry shrimp or Anamo shrimp. If your getting livebearers and want them to reproduce get 1m guppies and 2 f guppy. If not just 3 male guppies . Hope that helps

The platies alone fully stock a ten
The OP could do the gouramis and the guppies but RCS will be eaten and amanos are too large

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

Why are amanos too large for a 10 gallon? Lets not be too conservative here.

 

[Samzter]

Oh sorry for giving wrong advise !! Yeh emarald is right , they will probably fully stock the tank . You might want to take out the platies then!